Iris' 3rd birthday

Family portrait!

Hello Kitty Parfait

 I guess I didn't take more photos of the party. We invited just a handful of Iris' friends over for her 3rd birthday (you know, in January, when she was born!) I have a whole new birthday philosophy. As soon as everyone gathers, we sing "Happy Birthday" and eat the sugar. Then the kids can run crazy and the parents can relax.

marshmallows dipped in melted candy cane Hershey kisses.

Iris had a great party, and she can't wait til she turns four! They are both in a hurry to grow up. =(

Clark's 5th birthday!

Clark had his fifth birthday party at the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department (the same scene of his 3rd birthday party). The theme was "super heros" and it was a ton of fun! 

We had a very long, snowy winter. School was cancelled a lot. We were trapped indoors a lot. So, we used those snow days to make some super awesome stuff for the party. 

 

we made a pinata out of a paper grocery bag

construction paper, glue, scissors.

everyone helped.

and Clark picked some cool pictures from Pintrest to glue to the sides of the Pinata

and filled it with candy!

on the day of the party, we dressed in our Superhero Best

enjoyed our friends!

two cakes!

and ate some delicious ice cream cake!

family love

Clark is 5!

 There was a fire station tour, a pinata, and all the kids left the party with superhero capes and masks!

Clark's 3rd Birthday Party

Fire truck cake!

We had Clark's 3rd birthday party today. It was incredible. We rented a room at our local Fire Department and invited our friends to come eat yummy foods and a fire truck cake!  The kids played in firetruck costumes, with fire truck toys, in a fire truck popup house, play with a fake burning city,  colored, and got to wear firefighter hats! We even had a tour of the fire station by Fireman Dan!

I don't know why we are laughing, but we are. This non-Greenwell is Mary, and her daughter Josie who is 3 months older than Iris and considers herself Iris' babysitter/keeper/bestfriend/2nd mom.

Little Fire Truck House and friends.

Kids playing "nicely"

Owen playing sweetly by himself. Driving fire truck over to burning city to save the day!

Mr. Precious! (that's John Paul over in the corner. Hasn't he grown?!!)

Lots of friends. Will Clark and his mom, Katie are in the front.

Fireman Dan demonstration

Fire station tour.

Watch how fast he gets dressed!

High Fives for the Fireman!

Happy Family!

Touring the ambulance.

Checking out the Ambulance. That girl in pink is little Bernadette!

Clark drives a firetruck with Iris by his side!

I'm driving the truck!

Happy Birthday time!

Blowing

Blowing

Gone!

We did 3 candles with 1 to grow on. This was an Averill tradition, but not a Greenwell one. It turns out about half of our guests did it too, and half didn't.  If you watch the blowing out the cake photos, Iris is blowing too!

We've been talking about this firetruck birthday party for months, and I'm so glad the day was finally here. It completely fulfilled all of my own dreams for an awesome birthday party and I'm pretty sure Clark and everyone else loved it too! 

I'd like to thank "The Cake Boss" for inspiring our fire truck cake. I'd like to thank Tom for buying and prepping all of our delicious gluten-free food. I'd like to thank all of our friends who came to have fun with us today. Finally, I'd like to thank Clark for making my dreams come true by being my baby (although he would say, "I'm not a baby, I'm a boy!"), and for turning 3 and allowing us to have this awesome party! 

How to make an awesome holiday...

STEP 1: High 5 on an airplane,

Step 2: Have tons of fun on the airport playground during a layover.

 Step 3: find Cozy Coupe in California. Play in it constantly.

 Step 4: Run around with cousins! Act as crazy and insane as possible (or as your parents allow before asking you to be quiet or calm down).

Step 5: Mimosas!

 Step 6: Open presents with Daddy!

Step 7: Open presents with mommy!

Step 8: Enjoy thyself with thine family.

Step 9: Enjoy thy presents! 

 

Step 10: Find that Cozy Coupe and PLAY!

or a scooter

or a skateboard with no wheels! Whatever, just have fun!

Step 11: Go to the beach. Dig to China.

Step 12: Go to Wild Animal Park and admire animals.

giraffe tongues!

but don't become one yourself,

Grrrrrrr!

 

enjoy your family

give lots of hugs,

and explore

Step 13: Enjoy local parks and visitors centers. Here's Clark at Mission Trail Visitor Center making a leaf drawing!

and adding a hand leaf to the tree!

Step 14 = SEA WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Step 15: Celebrate life, like Iris' First Birthday!

 Step 16: Visit with Friends, like our NFP teachers Dave and Cheryl.

 Step 17: Love your sister

 and your Nana!

 and Nana's dog ALLIE!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Step 18: Enjoy the Cozy Coupe... did I say that already? Make sure no one is in it though... Ben drove around on Iris' lap for a while before Tom rescued her!

 Step 19: If you have a holiday goal, I recommend pursuing it....

and achieving it! 

 Step 20: Smile

 enjoy family and down time,

Cozy Coupe!!!!!!

 and finally.... enjoy life's little

Surprises!!!!!!!!!!

There was more beach and friend visits, and some surfing too! Maybe we'll post photos of those things, or maybe we won't. But it was a great holiday and we had lots of fun with our little nieces and nephews. Clark loved his cousins, and Iris loved nana's dog! We are glad we went, and we are really glad to be back in our time zone in our own beds. We hope you had a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and a great time in between! Love, the Greenwells!